The combination science fair, engineering expo and design show that is the Maker Movement, which has sprung up all over the United States, returns to Detroit this week and comes to Grand Rapids in August.

Maker Faire Detroit holds its fifth annual showcase of tinkers, hackers and inventors on Friday and Saturday at The Henry Ford in Detroit.

The Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire, set for Aug. 30-31 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, is soliciting entries for the first event in Michigan's second-largest city.

An informational session for prospective participants will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Geek Group's Leonard Street Labs, at 902 Leonard Street NW, to answer questions about logistics and participation.

The inaugural event in Grand Rapids will be a family-friendly show featuring rockets and robots, DIY science and technology, urban farming and sustainability, alternative energy, bicycles, unique hand-made crafts, local food, and educational installations.

The Geek Group, one of the sponsors of Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire, plans to bring to the show the world's largest Newton's Cradle, which never has been to any other Maker Faire.

New aspects of this year's Maker Faire include the Official Nerdy Derby, live demonstrations from Pewabic Pottery’s Education Studio, live performances by Detroit's Dear Darkness, and "America's Got Talent" contestant and Michigan maker, The Sprice Effect, displaying his complex Rube Goldberg machine.